“We were the author of our own downfall.”
Tyrone joint-manager Brian Dooher has reflected on his side’s Allianz National League defeat to Derry, a team managed by his former manager Mickey Harte.
Derry came out comfortable winners at Celtic Park, winning the game 1-12 to 0-9, despite a decent first half against the wind, the away team seemed to lose all composure in the second half.
Speaking to the BBC after the game, the All-Ireland winning manager and player admitted that it was squandered opportunities that lead to their downfall on Sunday.
“We had a reasonable enough first half, we were still in the game anyway,” he said.
“Second half we came out, had the first few chances and didn’t take them. I think we were an author of our own downfall with the shots that we had,” admitted Dooher.
“We probably got a bit nervous and snapped at a few shots, our shot selection and decision-making could have been better towards the end of it, but I couldn’t fault the effort in general.
“It was a difficult wind. Derry played well, running the ball with hard running, and we didn’t cope with that as well as we should have in the second half.
“We just failed to pick up men at times coming through, it’s something we have to learn from.”
Although it won’t feel like it to the players, there are other factors that need to be considered when it comes to contextualising this defeat. For instance, only seven players that played against Kerry in last year’s All-Ireland quarter final had lined out against Derry.
"Spacing, width and intent."
The Mickey Harte effect on Derry.
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They are currently missing key stars Conn Kilpatrick, Peter Harte, Conor Meyler, Cathal McShane, Kieran McGeary, Frank Burns and Mattie Donnelly, who are all due to come back from injuries in the near future, or suspension in Kilpatrick’s case.
Harte himself acknowledged that Derry were victorious over a Tyrone team that were missing some big names.
“We know Tyrone were missing a host of top class players so we are not getting carried away in thinking that we beat a Tyrone team,” insisted Harte.
“We beat a Tyrone team with the players available at the minute and I know of several names that would make a serious change on that team that were not available, so we have to factor that in as well.
“We did not use the breeze too well in the first half but we did good in the second half to make the game to some degree comfortable for ourselves.”
Related links:
- The family ties between the Tyrone and Derry teams go much deeper than just Mickey Harte
- Richie Donnelly’s retirement from Tyrone is borderline disastrous for the county
- The three players Mickey Harte should immediately call up for Derry
